Chapter Two
James
I should be focusing on this bullshit war coming with the South Five thanks to June killing the Fiver in front of his gang and all the Saints.
I’ll always be grateful to her for saving my brother’s life, but the fact remains that her little stunt has made my life increasingly more difficult. The Fivers want blood.
To make matters worse, Theo is clearly falling for her. The way he looks at her throws me back in time. I haven’t seen that expression since my sister died. Theo might not realize it yet, but pretty soon, he’ll be head over heels in love with a literal serial killer.
So, I have plenty I should be doing.
Instead, I’m here, sitting on the hood of my Jeep, across the street from a small plant nursery.
I light another cigarette, my sister scolding me in my mind for killing myself.
The closest I ever got to quitting smoking was when she had been pregnant and Shiloh was a baby.
I would’ve done anything, given up anything, to keep that precious girl safe and healthy.
Now that both Scottie and Shiloh are gone, there’s really no reason to deny myself something that’s so efficient at dulling the edge and calming my nerves.
Sadie is only visible when she steps into the little outdoor section of her shop, which isn’t often. I’ve spent the majority of the last two hours staring at the front of the building, smoking and trying not to think about Saturday.
It was her. I know it was. Right before my fight, there was a commotion on the far side of the warehouse.
I looked up in time to see a girl with short black hair sprint out of the building.
I didn’t see her face, but every bone in my body knew it was Sadie.
Nearly an hour of interrogating people later, I learned that the young woman who ran out before my fight claimed to be there to watch me.
I never learned why. Is she like June? Now that her friend seems to have abandoned her plan to kill Theo, has Sadie taken over?
But Theo wasn’t even there that night. And in all the time I’ve watched June, and consequently Sadie, I haven’t found any evidence that she shares her friend’s proclivities.
The only suggestion of murderous impulses are the poisonous plants and flowers she grows.
But I’ve looked into recent homicides, and none include poison.
I remind myself that connecting June to anything concrete has been nearly impossible. If Sadie is similar, then she could be just as good at hiding it.
Which means she could be in danger too. The detective after June will leave no stone unturned.
He’ll dig into the lives of everyone close to her.
And the South Five won’t hesitate to get revenge by going through a civilian.
If they find out who June is, all her friends, Sadie in particular, are fair game.
Finally, I jump off the Jeep and jog across the street. A bell jingles when I push open the door, and a dozen different floral scents hit me at once. How the fuck does she not get a headache being surrounded by this assault of aromas every day?
Sadie walks out from behind a table of plants, pulling gloves off. “Welcome to Seed—” When she sees me, her words dry up and her limbs lock. She looks behind me, as if searching for more threats.
“Hi,” I say, then wince. I did not think this through.
What am I supposed to say? Hi, I’m here because your serial killer best friend murdered a man in front of a bunch of bikers and gang members two days ago, a detective is investigating her, and I wanted to ask if you’re also a murderer?
Even if you’re not, you may be in danger just because of your poor choice in friends.
She’d call the cops. Or she’d try to kill me.
Either way, Theo would be pissed. The order he gave the entire club yesterday replays in my mind. “If anyone so much as thinks about what they saw June do yesterday, I will personally stab you in the neck with your kickstand.”
I won’t betray Theo by saying anything about June’s kills, including to her best friend.
All I really need to do is put Sadie on her guard, hopefully in a way that won’t make her tell June. I’d rather not be her next target.
“I know this is… random, but I have to ask you something.”
That seems to heighten her fear. She glances left, at the door to her office, and her muscles tense, like she’s preparing to run.
“Have you heard of the Saints of Purgatory?”
She pauses, lips parting slightly. Then her eyes narrow. “You know I have.”
Somehow, the sound of her indignation is a relief. “What about the South Five?”
This time, it’s all confusion in those golden irises. “What do you want?”
“Nothing,” I lie. “Can I assume you know who I am?”
She lifts her chin, but the confidence she wears looks frailer than what I’ve seen in June. It’s not weakness, though. More like… a desire for peace and freedom, rather than one for blood and vengeance.
“James Hartley.”
I ignore the burst of pleasure at hearing my name on her lips. “Yeah. And your best friend is dating my brother.”
“Theo is your brother?”
“Basically.”
“You mean because you’re in the club with him?”
“I’m his vice president and roommate.”
“Good for you.”
I clear my throat, glancing at the cameras in the corner of the room. I’d prefer not to be recorded, but no one else is here right now, so there’s no chance of being overheard. And I’m not going to ask this skittish girl to go somewhere private with me.
“What has June told you about us?” I ask.
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“She’s a bit… busy.” Fucking Theo’s brains out, I mentally add. “And I don’t think she’d appreciate me talking to you.”
“Then why are you?”
“Because I’m an idiot,” I answer honestly. “And I could’ve sworn I saw you on Saturday at one of my fights.” The flaming blush that rises to her cheeks is proof enough that I was right in thinking it had been her. “I bet you didn’t tell June you went to an underground fight.”
Her spine straightens, and she manages to glare down at me, despite being half a foot shorter. “What my best friend and I do or do not talk about is none of your business.”
“You’re right. But while she’s dating my brother, what she does and what she tells people about Theo or the Saints is my business.”
“She hasn’t told me any of your dirty secrets, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m more worried about perception.”
“What do you mean?”
I sigh and rub the back of my neck. “The Saints aren’t a gang, but we have… dealings with gangs in the city. Specifically, the South Five. The Saints and the Fivers have had a rocky relationship for years.”
“Okay?”
“They aren’t against using outsiders to do their dirty work for them. Nothing is off limits. If they want to hit Theo where it hurts or learn about Saints’ secrets, they’ll use any avenue available to them.”
She lifts a brow, the only sign that she’s listening.
“The longer June and Theo date, the more danger she’s in. The Fivers could try using her to get to him. They may even use random strangers. Like lone women wandering into dangerous fights, throwing around my and Theo’s names and claiming our protection.”
Her cheeks are bright red now and she continues her frantic scanning of her surroundings. “Are you threatening me?”
“God, no.” She frowns and crosses her arms. “I haven’t known June long, but I’m not dumb enough to threaten her best friend.”
Shock replaces all fear and anger, pulling her eyebrows higher on her forehead.
Either she’s surprised I know about June, or she’s surprised that someone like me, a giant biker who is currently an undefeated fighter, would be scared to get on the bad side of someone like June, a small, seemingly innocent young woman.
“Then what are you doing? What exactly is this?”
I move closer, only for her to take a step back, keeping a solid five feet between us.
I stop moving, raising a hand palm out, hoping to communicate my harmless intentions.
“I’m simply here to make sure you know what world your friend…
and now you have stumbled into. The more you make yourself known, the more danger you’ll both be in. ”
“June can take care of herself,” she says. “So can I.”
“I don’t doubt it. But it’s my job to look out for my family and analyze every possible variable. You, right now, are an unknown. So, I have to ask, why were you at my fight?”
The lift of her chin does nothing to erase the blush, but I appreciate her attempt at fortitude. “That’s none of your business.”
I say nothing and watch her try to keep the mask in place under such scrutiny. Then I shrug. “Fine. Just keep your eyes open. You and June aren’t doing yourselves any favors, and if it comes down to it, I will happily fling you both to the wolves to save my family.”